Equal Opportunity Program (EOP) did not start as a government funded program. It was a movement started by students, assisted by Jesuit priests and then the school decided it was something that needed to be pursued. The idea of a student driven movement is influential in the age group of many students and the impact they can have. It is very easy to accept what is going on. It is easy to say well that is just the way it is. It is easy to live your own life and not consider the secondary effects your lack of actions may have on the potential of programs like EOP.Attending a University is an accomplishment for any student. It opens doors. Many students would not be able to attend a college because of where they came from and the opportunities they were afforded are not applicable to a higher education. In the 1960’s was a time of racism. There were not many African American students attending Marquette University. After the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. riots began to form in Detroit then Milwaukee. Students became part of the movement. They brought Marquette University administration a list of demands to push the EOP program into action and move the school in a better direction from all classes. The student driven movement is an inspiration to all because it is often thought that change can only be seen in politics. As students it is often thought and considered to get a degree, graduate, get a job, maybe a husband and or wife and after that there may be a kid on its way. These steps leave a gap. It is not acknowledging the privilege to be able to take those steps for a better future for yourself that many others will never get. As for the excuse I am just a student I can not make a difference. It has been done before, it can be done again.

Equal Opportunity Program (EOP) is an academic program allowing students who are first generation low income students to enroll in university. Marquette University is a founding institution that has kept a tradition alive for 45 years. The opportunity resonates in a city like Milwaukee because of the racial segregation. Milwaukee has been noted as the number one most racially segregated city in the nation. This puts the EOP program as an awe-inspiring opportunity on a local level. Herbert Lowe is a Professor at the William and Mary Diederich College of Communications and also the director of journalism for social change. He is also an alumni of the EOP program and a testament to the success of the programs graduates. I am fortunate to be a student of Professor Lowe. The EOP program was something foreign to many students, except one who is a current EOP student and more reason to believe in its benefits to Marquette as an institution and its greater community. Monday, October 19 Lowe announced our final class project would be to turn the EOP program into a multi-digital platform similar to the works of CNN’s The Undecided. Today’s assignment was to generate ideas for what our final project will be. Ideas thus far have been incorporating people, objects from college days to reflect The Undecided. I think a unique way to differentiate our program from the rest is in the people we pick. By putting the people involved in three categories will help make our project set itself away from the rest. This will allow for people to scroll vertically about the past of the program, the present state and the future of where EOP will go. I think by keeping it local to Milwaukee will allow our class to not only address the importance of EOP, but expose the issue of racial segregation and its impact on our community. 1)Past : Will include any prominent figures who have affected the program including activists and faculty members and people who have benefited from EOP. 2)Present : People interviewed from the present will be people currently in roles who help EOP students and current students in the program. 3)Future: This is a crucial aspect to the EOP program and will include activists, donors, High School students in the pre-college program looking to attend a University. I cannot wait to start this project. Stay tuned for more to come.

This past Thursday, Oct. 9 was the start of the O’Brien Fellowship Conference at Marquette University. The O’Brien Fellowship is a public service journalism program allowing students to work with professionals and delve into some of the most pressing problems in today’s society. Lillian Thomas was an inaugural fellow from 2013-2014 academic year. Thomas has a background in journalism from assistant managing editor for investigations at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, reporter, city editor and Sunday editor for The Post-Gazette. For the O’Brien Fellowship Thomas focused on hospital closing and openings and how it was effecting those in poverty. Thomas initially became interested in the topic when her residence had a closing in its steel industry which majorly effected the city of Braddock and its people. The local hospital a University of Pittsburg Medical Hospital UPMC acted as a place for medical needs but also as a local eatery because of many restaurant closings. When UPMC in Braddock announced its closing to rebuild, Thomas was shocked. When a new hospital was built in a more affluent area Thomas knew she needed to investigate further. That is when Thomas left her city of Pittsburg to find a new residence in Milwaukee. Thomas worked closely with students to uncover the issue of why so many hospitals were closing in impoverished areas and moving to more prosperous neighborhoods. Thomas talked to doctors working throughout the Greater Milwaukee area. One doctor began prescribing food as a means for patients in poverty to help with health needs. When the doctor was confronted with his seemingly odd prescription he responded by saying food was the best anecdote for malnutrition. Thomas talked to many other doctors and health officials and began to come to the conclusion that being poor makes you sick. Although Thomas had a story she needed a face to make the piece more humanistic. While sitting at a free clinic in Milwaukee Thomas happened to come across a patient John Patton Jr. Patton is a charismatic man who has had a past with many ailments that have kept him from employment and a healthy future. Despite Patton having an optimistic outlook, his financial situation keeps him relaying on free health clinics to help. Patton has a variety of health problems including high blood pressure, an injured back, gout and depression. Since Patton relays on free healthcare it keeps him from receiving much needed regular care that worsens his conditions. Pattons living circumstances also keep from recovering. Thomas did not limit her research to Patton or the issues with hospitals located in Milwaukee and Pittsburg. Thomas worked with the Journal Sentinel and published a series of maps that provided information on openings and closings of hospitals in many major cities. The O’Brien conference was set up to let the fellows of the prior year to speak, including Lillian Thomas. The conference housed the likes of Pulitzer Prize winning journalists like Raquel Rutledge and the Washington Post’s writer Marjorie Valburn. Students from the fellowships inaugural year sat in the audience and present fellows mingled talking about their work with the program. Herbert Lowe the program director of the O’Brien Fellowship laughed with his wife before the day’s festivities began. Opening remarks came from the Lori Bergan Dean of the William and Mary Diederich College of Communications. “Opportunities make the world a better place,” Bergan said. The intention of the fellowship is not only to provide an opportunity for students to assist to research and expose problems, but offer solutions. Thomas was able to take an issue and create an eye opening piece that was published in both the Journal Sentinel and the Pittsburg Gazette. With the O’Brien program in only its second year, it already leaves a short legacy and a promising future.

National News Engagement Day was an effort to get students involved in the conversation about being informed about what the heck is going on in the news. The effort by theAssociation for Education in Journalism and Mass Communicationin which they promoted a day to get people in the conversation through outlets of social media.

The Brian William's video was played in class to motivate stuents to get involved I was thrilled. Williams cited a Pew Research Poll in his video stating about a third of young adults are "essentially growing up news-free.” I have many friends and know students who watch comedy central for the news. I love the Colbert Report and The Daily Show with John Stuart however, they are not news. It is a great tool to learn about what is going on in the news, but should not be a sole provider. To get students or anyone for that matter interested in current affairs is a worthy cause.

National News Engagement Day was brought to Marquette University’s William and Mary Deiderich College of Communications in reference to the hashtag #engagenews. Each table was filled with magazines, newspapers and tablets to get students to read a single article. In exchange for reading an article and submitting a tweet or anything on social media about the event, that particular student would receive a free tee-shirt. This attempt to get students involved with current affairs was a first try. It seemed to be a success. Students engaged with each other on a topic they may normally not. It was encouraging to see the excitement of staff members and students involved with National News Engagement Day. Many students were surrounding the table, whether it was for reading an article or getting a free shirt it got them part of the conversation.

HIghlights

2) The Midnight reruns are on the local milwaukee label goodland records and will be recording in new york this month.

3) Trapper Schoepp & the shades are also part of goodland records and are still touring the U.s.

The musician working at a local establishment to pay rent is a typical cliché. For Graham Hunt it is a risk that has done more than pay his bills. Sitting in a Chinese restaurant Hunt age 23 sat and ate sweet and sour chicken after his shift ended at the local Walgreen's. As Hunt ate he talked casually about his start at the pharmacy chain located in Cudahy, Wisconsin. Hunt got the job at age 19 because Walgreen's was the only place to call him back. He took the job. Hunt has stayed for years after due to the flexibility in the schedule to allow Hunt to pursue his true passion; Music. Hunt got into music around age 11. One of his first bands was called the Brutal Dildos which Hunt started at age 14. One day his Mom picked him up from a show and saw there were drunk kids. She refused to give her son a ride to practice after that and Hunt had to quit the band. After High School Hunt followed his parent’s footsteps in attaining a college degree and went to University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. His father Michael Hunt is currently a sports columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Hunt took general electives and pursued his degree for two years until he decided he was raking in debt with no idea of what he wanted to do. At the time he was also touring with a band Trapper Schoepp & The Shades when Hunt decided to take a break from school and live his dream. Today Hunt is the lead singer and songwriter for the local Milwaukee band Midnight Reruns. The band has played shows around the country and festivals like South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. “As of now I have no grand ambition but to keep doing what I am doing,” said Hunt. “If something cool happens from it, then that is awesome.”

The Online Journal Association describes themselves as, " is a leader in the rapidly changing world of journalism; a catalyst for innovation in story-telling across all platforms." As a class we were told to look through the stories of winners from the 2014 Online Journalists Association Awards, pick one that represents what kind of stories do we want to do in the future. What represents our aspirations.

As I looked through an array stories on various topics I could not decide what represents my future or aspirations. That is solely because every piece I looked at represented something I wanted to do. Instead of picking one story I narrowed it down to four categories of qualities I aspire to achieve and stories that represent it.

Innovation: Fearless was considered under the category of student small story. After engaging with the innovation from the piece I saw nothing small about it. Fearless provided the reader with the ability to hear about the issues involved with women and fear in India and then allowed interaction while following the life of a women on her way to work. As the reader interacted with each turn whether you wanted to take the train or bus, it was a decision that could change the path of your day.

Focus on a BIG issue at local level: AlJezeera offered a visual and textual representation ofIn Between California. Scrolling through the pictures and text led to insight on an important social issue of poverty and living expenses.In Between California allowed the reader to feel and see the changes and develop relationships and understanding of each individual within the text.

Storytelling: NPR had a story in two categories Called Planet Money Money Makes a T-Shirt. The story followed a shirt and all the various vendors and places one shirt went through to come out as a finished product. The shirt represents the cotton, the people and the many individuals who worked to make the one shirt come to a buyers door.

Investigative Reporting: Also recognized was Milwaukee's own local paper The Journal Sentinel in its investigative reporting on Deadly Delays. Deadly Delays was about procedures for the nations newborns that could save them from rare diseases in the future.

Each story took a unique perspective on important issues. Looking at each article gave me hope for what is to come in the future of journalism, it looks bright.

When you walked into our class on Wednesday I was still unsure if journalism was the career I was going to pursue. After hearing your work experience from reporter at Newsday in New York to editor of CNN digital news feature section, my mouth dropped. My prior knowledge of what an editor was like was limited to Meryl Streep from the Devil Wears Prada, but my mind was changed that day. I was instantly caught by how you managed the room. I never heard an um, stutter or pause that was unintentional. Although the floor was yours and the class wanted to hear from you and all of the experiences, you engaged the class and listened to every comment made.

My key take away was the advice you bestowed upon the class. Although there was plenty I will limit it to three.

1) Make your digital media presence known. Professionals do it. Aspiring journalists should do it. Just because you are not at the professional level yet does not mean you should not start now. You gave the example of John D. Stutter and how he has the ability to utilize social media in his stories and to promote them. Seeing a first hand example made it not only a visual representation of how to do it, it made it easy to think I could do it. 2) Building trust with sources. After reading and watching the video from Sandy's Story the class was moved and left with a better understanding of the disease of Alzheimer. What we did not see was the relationship and time spent building the relationship between reporter and Sandy. As you explained how the reporter spent weeks getting Sandy to even agree to the story, it made me realize the importance of relationships even as it relates to journalism.3) You don't need to buy special paper to get hired. When all is said and done experience is what is needed. Internships and sample pieces is what will get you the job."I don't care about paper quality as content," Lowe said, "just don't put on toilet paper."

At the end of the hour and 50 minute class was over, I was reminded again about why I choose journalism as my major in the first place. And for this I thank you.

Joe Schafer stood behind his camera adjusting it in anticipation for the inauguration of the 24 president for Marquette University, Dr. Michael Lovell. Schafer agreed to interview under the stipulation that he could continue working in between questions. Schafer put on his headset, checked it was working and proceeded with the interview.

Before getting into production the Chicago native switched majors eight times. Schafer's majors ranged from media studies to anthropology. Today Schafer is a senior at Marquette University majoring in broadcast and working for video production crew. “I always liked video cameras,” Schafer said.

What keeps Schafer with production'? He likes people. And people seem to like him.Schafers colleague said he spoke for the team when it came to all things related to production. Questions were not to be answered by the production team for any press. Schafer was the exception. As a colleague spoke highly Schafer, he took the chance and quickly spoke into his headset for a quick break to do work.While working Schafer joked with colleague's as they proceeded to set up for the inauguration. Instead of nerves when speaking about the days work, he calmly spoke about graduation. Dreams of moving to New Orleans are in Schafer's mind. And making real money.

An interesting thing about him?

“I made toast this morning and I forgot it in the toaster before I left,” Schafer said.

I was in fourth grade in a suburb of Chicago walking to class when I saw a fire in a big building on the television: I was about to be late to school and was rushed out the door before I could even ask what had happened. I was sitting in my classroom where teachers and faculty were keeping us kids oblivious to the events of the day. What I did not know were the countless workers, firefighters and reporters all working to help and get the story out to the rest of the world.

Herbert Lowe is a professor and director of journalism for social change. Three days before the anniversary of the day the Twin Towers fell in New York City, Lowe took a day off from teaching to speak to our class about what he remembered from reporting on the event.

"I am to stay as close to Ground Zero as possible and report often with updates. I was in a corner deli, desperate for food, when Mayor Rudy Giuliani said over the radio that the day’s loss of life would be “more than we can bear,” said Lowe on his blog post My 9/11 Chronicle.

Lowe detailed talking to individuals in transit to get a story. They had nothing but to talk to one another so no one feared the motives. At the end of the day Lowe was no different than those he was interviewing, they all feared death.

"I was a person," stated Lowe.

After reading the blog and listening to Lowe speak my takeaway was at the end of the day, at the end of every tragedy whether you are a person running from the dust, or the journalist running towards the disaster or the kid sitting in class - we all have our own way of remembering.

10:05pm 95.5 million Passengers, 930,000 takeoffs and landings all leading up to making Atlanta the worlds busiest airport. The multimedia platform allows the reader to experience the story rather than just read about airports. The reader can view chronologically by clicking on a time of a 24 hour day. The other option is to read by theme, starting with love and loss. As you scroll through each story the pictures and characters develop quickly - then lead to the next. 10:15pm The first encounter with a patron of the airport is Sheila Payton, whose eagerly anticipation the arrival of her daughter and fiancé. While waiting, Payton details her daughter’s upbringing and go-getter attitude. The story is a first glimpse into the countless travelers of the Atlanta airport.10:25pmFor 15 years Cage has worked at the Atlanta Braves All Star Grill and has served the likes of stars and made relationships with regular travelers. Stories from Cage encompass her experiences and witnesses of travelers of the airport – Cage says it is the bar where “anything is possible here.”10:40pm Ever wondered who could get past the “Do Not Enter” sign: Paulette Carthon can. Carthon’s domain is the airport’s economy parking lot where she transports people and their bags from their cars to the airport terminal – while bringing a smile and some banter for passengers.11:00pmEach theme, picture and character leads one to scroll to the next. It allows for the airport to take on a human quality as it houses many different people with unique stories and emotions. Each story provides a perspective unlike the one before giving a full view of those who walk the floors of the Atlanta airport. 11:30pm I am done with the assignment, but I am still reading on the nation’s busiest airport.